Nettle, Urtica
dioica
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Family of urticaceae
It is considered one of the worst herbs of the vegetable kingdom and
it has always had a love-hate relationship with men. There are finds of
the Bronze Age which show the use of this herb for textile purposes.
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Use
The main medical properties of nettle, using the juice and decoction,
are haemostatic and anti diarrhoeic. It is very common to use nettle
for food purposes as it is a herb rich of chlorophyll. Once boiled
it loses its irritating characteristics so that it is possible to
prepare sautéed vegetables or cooked with butter or oil and
garlic. Then it is used to fill ravioli substituting spinach. It is
possible to cook soups with nettle, fried bread, broth and Parmisan
cheese, as well as soufflés with nettle, eggs, ricotta, nutmeg
and Parmisan cheese. |
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Picture and text of Tebaldo Lorini
Translated by Gianna Toni |
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